Mobile applications have the power to transform HIV/AIDS nursing

New research from the University of Washington School of Nursing found that smartphone applications, or apps, have the potential to improve efforts to combat HIV/AIDS and other diseases both in the African subcontinent and around the world.

The study, which was led by Sarah Gimbel (pictured), associate professor of nursing, evaluated the current use of mobile phones and tablets in HIV-related care in low- and middle-income countries around the world.

Gimbel and her co-authors found that a larger selection of phone applications, or apps, are needed to improve the tremendous resources that have been provided to improve HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment. The applications must also be designed to be used by huge volumes of users to support scalability.